Signal system



Original Filed March 19, 1921 Patented Jan. 13,: 19,31

PATENT OFFICE BEB KEY E. COVER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS srennn sysrnnr fiubstitute in application Serial No.

This application is a substitute for my abandoned application 453,642, .filed March 19, 1921.

My invention relates to signal systems such as are used for'fire or police alarms or any other signal system-which is to be installed in a community, plant, or wherever there is a fluid pressure supply line of water, steam, air

or the like. The main object of my invention is .to eliminate the costly'and troublesome cables and other wire equipment for signal systems of familiar type. I accomplish this object by utilizing wireless telegraphy and by energizing the wireless apparatus by means of the fluid pressure system in connection with which my signal system is installed. I have illustrated my inventionin a form adapted for use as a fire alarm system in connection with the main ot a city water system. a

, As a fire signal system must be operable by any one, of the public, its operation, so far as the public is concerned, must be very simple.

Another object of my invention, therefore,

is to provide an intelligible wireless signal which maybe sent by a single movement of an obvious piece of the apparatus.

A further object of my. invention is to provide for repetition of the signal at'intervals until it is interrup by response nal by a proper authonty.

I also desire .to enable an authorized person to, utilize the system for communications 1 other than sendin an alarm.

An additional 0 ject of my invention is to providea local signal which indicates the source of the alar In the accompanying. drawing, which illustrates a "vention.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a fire plug-mast and associated apparatus compris its fire plu "ordinarily used is replaced- 52 by a hollow cy ndrical mast 1 which will be usual manner.

preferred embodiment of my inneutr 459,042, med Earth 19, 1921. This application filed November 6,

I 1929. Serial No. 405,111.

seated in the ground and extend upwardly a suflicient distance to provide an adequate tower for wireless antenna. The water main 2 enters this mast at its lower end, and below the frost line is prqyided with one or more gate valves 3 leading to the fire hydrants 4, to which hose may be attachedin the Valves 3 are operated through bevel earing 5 by means of a socket wrench (not s%own) applied 'tothe squared end of shaft 6.

A separate outlet 7 from main 2 leads to a water motor 8 and is controlled by a valve 9 operated by a handle 10 positioned in a box 11, mounted on the outside-of mast 1, at a point conveniently reached by a person standing on'the surface of the ground. Box 11 may be provided with a lock, the key to which is kept in an adjacent building, or it may be provided with a glass door to be smashed when the alarm is to be sounded.

When valve 9 is opened and water motor 8- is operated, the latter rotates a shaft 12 on which is mounted a generator 13, thereby producing an electrical current utilized in sending the wireless signals and otherwise as described later. A worm 14 on shaft 12 drives a rotary spark gap 15 'in the signal circuit and a worm 16 on shaft 12 rotates a notched disc 17 which, by means of lever 28, operates key 29 to make and break the signal circuit to send a predetermined number and arrangement of dots and dashes which will be repeated at spaced intervals as long as the 'signal circuit remains closed. The circuit is grounded on-the water main at.1\8. Trans former,-'condenser, and inductance elementsare indicated at 19, 20 and 21, respectively. These are of usual construction and form no part of my present invention, exce t as they areessential elements" of the wire ess a pa ratu's. 'Anyother suitable sending an re-j ceivi'n circuits may be employed.

The vertical rod 22', upon which handle 10 is, mounted, is provided with -a finger 23 which may be moved by handle 10, to one 0 three ositio'ns. One of these positions is a 4 one occupied by'the finger when liandle 10 is in itsmormal position in which it closes valve 9. 'The three positions are diagrammatically illustrated at 24,25 and 26;

the position at 25 being the one occupied by the finger when the handle is in its normal position in which it closes valve 9. When an alarm is sounded, handle is moved to the right to open valve 9 and actuate motor 8, and

also to move finger 23 to the position ndicated at 24 in which it closes the sending circuit, andthe signal sending apparatus is then 10 operated until the arrival of firemen who shut off the signal. The sending apparatus comprises the primary circ'uit containing generator 13, the rimary winding inthe transformer 19 and ey 29 or 30; the secondary circuit comprising the secondary winding of the transformer 19, condenser 20, finger 23, 1n-

ductance 21 and spark gap lfi placed across the transformer, as shown.

When handle 10 is moved to the left from v its normal position and finger 23 assumes the position indicated at 26 the sending circuit is opened and a receiving circuit is cut in which has a terminal indicated at 27 in box 11 adapted to fit an ordinary receiving set which may be carried by the authorities. The receiving circuit comprises the antenna ,33, 1nductance 21, terminal 27, fingers 23 and ground 18. When handle 10 is so moved to the left, valve 9 will not be opened as it is 30 not necessary to generate a sending current. A direction plate A will be mounted in box 11 to indicate the functions of the different positions of handle 10.

A manually operable key is placedin par- 5 allelwith the key 29, and is located inbox 11 whereby the sending apparatus may be operated manually. To avoid confusion of the automatic sending apparatus with this man-. ually controlled apparatus, the latter is provided with a lever 31 which may be moved to the dotted line position tocut out the automatic sending circuit as is done by a similar lever in the .usual telegraph sending apparatus.

In caseof a false alarm, or need for further assistance, those responding to the alarm may utilize the sending circuit to communicate with headquarters, and by plugging in a receiving set at'the terminal 27, they may recei've' instructions or other messages from headquarters or from other stations.

Mast 1 decreases in diameter towards itsupper end and terminates in a'small diameter tube having a platform 32 of wood or other insulating material on which is mounted the pear shaped antenna 33 of the wireless and an indicating light 34 which is connected with generator 13 so as tobe lit thereby when the latter is driven by motor 8. The water motor 50 is provided with a discharge conduit 35 which preferably connects with a sewer'pipe.

. It is possible to substitute other driving means for my water motor without departing from the spirit of my invention and other ll changes may be made in the form, construcautomatic sending device actuated by said tion and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a signal system, a fluid pressure main, a signal unit comprising a fluid pressure motor, a valve between said main and said motor, a handle for operatin said valve, a wireless apparatus actuated by said motor and comprising receiving and sending circuits, and means actuated by said handle which closes either of the sending or receiving circuits.

2. In a fire alarm system, a water main, a unit comprising a water hydrant connected to said main and forming a Wireless mast, a wireless sending device therein, and an automatic-mechanism for operating said device, adapted to be actuated by the pressure in said mam.

3. In a fire alarm system, a water main, a unit comprising a water hydrant connecting said main, a wireless mast erected on said hydrant, a wireless sending mechanism contained in said mast, an alarm handle and means operated by water from said main and hydrant and controlled by said handle for automatically actuating said mechanism.

I 4. In a fire alarm system, a water main, a water hydrant, a water motor contained therein, a wireless apparatus including an motor, a passage from said water main to said motor, a valve in said passage, and control means for said valveaccessible to the public. .5. In a fire alarm system, a water main, a water hydrant, a water motor contained therein, a wireless apparatus including an automatic sending device contained in said hydrant and actuatedby said motor, a conduit from said main to said motor and means on the. exterior of said hydrant for controlling the passage of water through said conduit.

6. In a fire alarm" system, a hollow upright mast, a water main having an outlet through the lower portion of said mast, a wireless sending apparatus contained within said mast, a water motor for operating said apparatus, a passage from said main to said motor, a valve in said passage, and valve actuating means extending through the side of said mast.

7. In a fire alarm system, a hollow upright mast, a water main having an outlet through the side of the lower portion of said mast, a wireless sending apparatus contained within said mast, a generator for energizing said 125 apparatus, a water motor for operating said apparatus and generator, a passage from said main to said motor, a valve in said passage,

the side of said mast.

and valve actuating means extending through said motor, a handle for operating said valve,

- 8. In a signal system, a fluid pressure motor, a valve for controlling the flow offluid to said motor, a wireless sending apparatus, means for operating said sending apparatus 5 from said motor, and manual means for operating said sending apparatus.

9. In a signal system, a fluid pressure mo-- tor, a valve to control said motor, wireless sending apparatus, means for operating said sending apparatus from said motor, a radio receiving apparatus, a manual means for operating said sending apparatus, and a single means for controlling the operation of said valve and said receiving and sending apparatus.

10. A signal system comprising a fluid pressure motor, a wireless sending circuit adapted to be operated by said motor, a wireless receiving circuit, a valve to control said motor,

means to operate said valve, said means also controlling said circuits. 7

11. In a signal system, a fluid pressure main, a signal unit comprising a fluid pressure motor, a valve between said main and a wireless apparatus actuated by said motor, and means actuated by said handle for rendering operative said wireless ap aratus.

' BERKEY E. JOVER, 

